__________________ SEAFORD _________________
HERALD looking at future classes, activities
Robust response to house fire
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Vol. 74 No. 6
FEBRUARY 5 - 11, 2026
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Facilities and athletics update BOE at meeing
ing of the new inclusion playground at Manor School which is designed to give students of The Seaford Board of Educa- all abilities a safe and welcomtion received an update from ing space to play, with room for Russell Costa, director of facili- future additions. “This was our last playties, and Kevin Witt, director of physical education, health, and ground to get the artificial turf athletics, detailing sweeping upgrade,” Costa said. “We did improvements, goals, and the away with the wood chips, growing impact of their respec- which just got all over the place. It was sometive departments. thing always recCosta led the ommended by our J a n . 2 8 eve n i n g insurance carrier.” meeting at Manor The gymnasium Elementary School at Seaford Middle with a comprehenSchool underwent a sive review of comfull ceiling renovapleted, ongoing, and tion with new ductfuture capital work and lighting, improvements while the library across all four w a s f u l l y o ve rschools within the hauled. “You’ll see district. He outlined KEViN Witt the before and after the roles of the pictures, just a trefacilities de par t- Director of athletics, mendous upgrade,” ment, w h i c h Seaford School Costa said. “Much includes custodial District nicer area for our staff, groundskeepers, maintainers, and security students to learn in” The middle school now has a personnel. At Harbor School, cement new EPDM rubber roof with a p a d s w e r e a d d e d u n d e r 25-year warranty. Costa added entrance benches for safety and that similar replacements are cleanliness, while first-floor scheduled for Manor and Harstudent bathrooms were com- bor schools this summer. At pletely renovated—marking the Seaford High School, updates full modernization of all Har- included the addition of a concrete patio and picnic area near bor restrooms. Costa highlighted the openContinued on page 11
By lUKE FEENEY
lfeeney@liherald.com
Courtesy Office of Sen. Steve Rhoads
Honoring a longtime post commander Terrence Murphy, center right, longtime commander of of Seaford American Legion Post 1132, was presented with citations last month by from left Town of Hempstead Councilman Chris Schneider, County Legislator Kayla Knight and State Sen. Steve Rhoads for his selection as the Seaford Herald’s 2025 Person of the Year. Story, more Photos, page 10.
Rhoads pushes back on Hochul’s plans Housing, taxes and safety are top Long Island concerns By lUKE FEENEY lfeeney@liherald.com
Gov. Kathy Hochul promised a broad slate of new policies aimed at affordability, child care, housing and public safety in her State of the State address last month. But State Sen. Steve Rhoads is pushing back, saying that many of those plans either don’t go far enough or fail to reflect the needs of Long Island communities. “The state of the state of New York is strong, and we’re just getting started,” Hochul declared in her Jan. 13 address, highlighting priorities like universal pre-K by 2028, crackdowns on gun violence and insurance fraud, and more than
$350 million in new investments in affordable and manufactured housing. But Rhoads, a Republican who represents Wantagh, Seaford, North Wantagh and other nearby communities, argued that the governor’s proposals often miss the mark — especially when it comes to public safety, affordability and housing. “She is now conditioning funding on municipalities being pro-housing communities,” Rhoads told the Herald, adding that this creates unfair burdens for local governments. “Unless the entire township agrees to loosen its zoning restrictions, it won’t qualify for state assistance Continued on page 13
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ou rallied around one another — you’re going to have memories that last forever.